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Port Commissioner Scott Peters has maintained a growing lead over U.S. Representative Brian Bilbray in the battle to represent the 52nd Congressional District.

On Monday, the Registrar of Voters released a new round of results in the tight race. Peters, a Democrat, now leads with about 1,900 votes.

Bilbray: We May Not Know in Days

Brian Bilbray talks to supporters as early results him in the lead for the 52nd Congressional District seat. (Published Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012)

Peters' lead on Bilbray, a Republican, has been growing since the morning after elections. Wednesday morning, the vote was narrowly split with just 685 votes separating the two candidates.

There are still about 260,000 mail and provisional ballots that have yet to be counted.

Scott Peters Thanks Supporters

Scott Peters talks about the wait for results in the newly-drawn 52nd Congressional District race. (Published Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012)

"I didn’t see us quite this good. I think it’s going to really tighten up," Bilbray said after early results were announced showing him in the lead Tuesday night.

Then, when he spoke to supporters several hours later, he warned them it may take days to iron out the race.

After many San Diegans went to bed, Peters pulled ahead with a slight lead and held on until all precincts were in.

The fight for California's newly-drawn 52nd was targeted with some of the most campaign cash and coverage nationwide.

“This district was drawn to be the battleground for the Congressional seats the other Congressional seats are pretty darn safe,” Bilbray told NBC 7 San Diego. “I think this is a great process even though I happen to have to be in the battleground again.”

Bilbray is a Republican has represented the 50th District since 2006 as well as the former 49th District for three terms ending in 2001.

Bilbray voted Tuesday morning with his daughter, who was featured in one of his many campaign ads. Before voting, Bilbray went surfing. He told NBC 7 San Diego that if the warm reception he received from fellow surfers was any indicator of the night’s results, he felt confident in a win.

Peters is a Democrat who represented District 1 on the San Diego City Council for two terms, serving as Council president in his second.

In an interview with NBC 7 San Diego at Golden Hall just hours before the polls closed, Peters said he also felt optimistic after the last minute campaigning of his team. In response to the negative attacks hurled against him, he said he was surprised, but that Congressman Bilbray represents negativity in Washington, D.C.